Day of the Dead (1985)

We have survived through the NIGHT and DAWN, but what new horrors will be unleashed on the DAY OF THE DEAD? A small group of scientists and soldiers have managed to survive the zombie apocalypse by boarding themselves up in a secret underground bunker, far beneath the earth's surface. Here, they search for answers as to what drives the dead to return, and what can be done to stop them. As a power struggle emerges between two rival factions within the group, the real monster is revealed to be man.

Romero's philosophical quandaries are more thought-provoking than ever, digging towards the meaning of life, the concept of civilization, and the true definition of "human" through the guise of a zombie shocker. Although it is often argued that his thematic approach comes before the actual horror, this simply is not the case. There is plenty of gore to go around, and the implication of mankind being reduced to a handful of snarling military men and a few scared scientists is terrifying enough. What is left to live for when all of mankind has been destroyed? What does it mean to be the last woman on Earth? Is man defined by his actions or intellect? These questions (and more) are raised throughout the script. The last is personified through the character of Bub the zombie, and undead specimen that Dr. Logan has conditioned to respond to items from his previous existence. If zombies are given back the ability to think and reason, does that make them human?

Any talk of Romero's supposed aversion towards his female characters can be dismissed with Sarah, played by Lori Cardille. Sarah is an intelligent, strong-willed woman, and an excellent lead. Richard Liberty is splendidly over-the-top as Dr. "Frankenstein" Logan, a man that has become so obsessed with his work that he identifies more with the dead than the living. The military men, led by the disreputable Captain Rhodes, are inhumanly cruel and controlling, quickly discerning themselves as the film's true villains. Joe Pilato creates one of the genre's most hated and despised characters in his intense performance as Rhodes, a character who is fully deserving of the fate that befalls him. Sherman Howard's Bub instantly becomes the most recognizable zombie in all of Horror through another winning performance.

Tom Savini goes well beyond expectation, and even surpasses his work in DAWN OF THE DEAD as the director of special makeup effects. Each zombie is given its own unique appearance, with a wide range of putrid skin tones and debilitating battle wounds. A few bite marks aren't enough in DAY OF THE DEAD; Savini has his zombies tear bodies apart with guts and grue spewing out all over the floor. The first zombie that we see has had its lower jaw ripped out, leaving its disgusting tongue to writhe through its throat. Another scene has Frankenstein remove all but the cerebral cortex of a corpse's brain, which is still attached to its body! DAY OF THE DEAD is the goriest of the three original DEAD movies, and displays some of Savini's finest work.

Contrary to many opposed beliefs, DAY OF THE DEAD overcomes its lessening pace through an intelligent character drama that serves as the forefront to the payoff in the end. Increased action and killing mean nothing when the audience is unable to relate to the characters, but Romero draws an immediate response in each and every death. Although it still falls behind the two preceding films in the series, DAY OF THE DEAD is highly underrated, and an excellent bookend to the Holy Trilogy of zombie movies.

Rating: 9/10.